MONTROSE, Ill. (WCIA) — Drivers in Montrose might want to find a new route if they typically rely on I-70.

Illinois State Police saw five separate accidents Thursday night. These all happened in the Montrose and Teutopolis areas. The Montrose Fire Protection District spent eight hours on the interstate cleaning up the crashes.

Each one was in a construction zone where the highway moves into one lane. Montrose’s Fire Chief said he’s been telling family and friends to avoid the highway altogether.

“It seems like ever since the construction has started, that’s when it’s really ticked up in call volume out to the interstate,” said Chris Overbeck, Montrose Fire Chief.

Overbeck said drivers rushing to merge is one reason he thinks there were several crashes in that zone. He wants to remind people to keep an eye on their mirrors and leave extra space when they merge.